Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-18

Among the many things that the ap-
proach of summer brings for him to
enjoy, or be source of annoyance. is
the spider. The spider family is very
numerous. no less than fifty kinds be
ing described by naturalists. All spi-
tlers have eight legs, with three joints
in each, and terminating in thin,
crooked claws. They have also eight
eyes, differently arranged according to
the species. Some have them in
straight line, others in the shape Of
capital V, others four above and four
below, others two above, two below
and two on either side, and there are
still others that have them arranged in
manner too complicated to describe
without drawings. On the front part
OF the head they have pair of sharp.
crooked claws, or forceps, which stand
horizo ntally, and which, when not in
use, are hidden from view in little
cases beautifully adapted for their re-
.ccption. and in which they fold up like
a clasp-knife, and remain there be-
tween two rows of teeth. When the
spider bites it thrusts white pro-
boscis out of it's mouth. with which it
instils poisonous liquid into the
wound. The abdomen, or hind part of
the spider. is separated from the head
and breast by small. thread-like tube.
The orter skin Is hard. polished crust.
A very curious specimen not often
found in this country, but which is
said to be very common in Italy. is the
hunting spider. so called because. in
stead of spinning webs to entrap its
prey, it jumps on its victim. 1t is
SMALL and of brown color, beauti-
fully spotted, and its hind legs are
longer than the others. When it sees
a fly three or four yards distant, it
plans its attack with considerable de-
liberation. creeping softly up and sell
dom missing its object When in a
direct line. the spider springs upon the
back Of the unsuspecting fly and
catches it by the head, and. after sat-
isfying its hunger. carries the rest
away for future consumption.
The nest Of this spider is very Curl
GUS. 1t is about two inches high. and
is composed Of close, satin-like text
are. In this are two chambers,
placed perpendicularly; in which the
spider rcposes during the day, gener-
ally doing its hunting after nishtfall.
The parent regularly instructs her
young how to pursue their future avO-
cation. and when in the coarse of their
instruction they happen to miss a
jump, they run away and hide as
though ashamed of their failure.
The most extraordinary nest is that
of the mason spider. native of the
tropics This nest is Termed of very
hard clay. deeply colored with oxide of
iron. 1t is in the form Of tube, about
one inch in diameter and six or seven
inches long. 1t is lined with uniform
tapestry Of orsnge-colored silken web.
of texture rather thicker than fine
paper. This lining is used in two ways.
1t prevents the wall of the house from
falling down. and. as it is connected
with the door, it enables the spider TO
know what is going ON above for the
whole vibrates when one part is touched.
To one who has never seen this nest
the word may seem singular, but new
crtheiess, there is door, and very
ingeniously contrived one. too. and it
is regarded rs one of the most curious
things in the whole insect architecture.
1t is little round piece made to fit the
opening, slightly convex on the inside
and concave on the outside. 1t IS COM
posed of twelve or more layers of web
similar to that with which the nest is
lined. laid very closely together. and
so managed that the inner layers are
broadest, the others gradually dinin-
fishing in size. except near the hinge,
which is about an inch long. All the
layers are united and prolonged into
the tube. consequently it is the firmest
and strongest portion Of the whole